5/31/2011

The last card from Club-last weekend :) This is very similar to one I did previously (in Pacific Point for the SUDSOL Blog tour), using the Flower Garden embossing folder.

The color on this one is Tangerine Tango. Card base is Tangerine Tango. Background is Very Vanilla that we stamped randomly the two outline flowers from Fabulous Florets. We punched the corner with the Ticket Corner punch and sponged the edges. the center image is cut with the Frame. Oval Scallop die in the Big Shot. The "frame" is Tangerine Tango, the "center" is Very Vanilla. We embossed the center oval with the Flower Garden embossing folder and then sponged on Tangerine Tango ink with a sponge dauber.

5/30/2011

Finally, the second card from club last weekend. Guess I got distracted and didn't finish posting them!! I wanted to do a 2nd card with watercolor crayons, so I picked the fun set, On the Grow, from the Summer Mini. I'm not usually big on much coloring, but this set has been fun.

Card base is Regal Rose. Background is Crumb Cake that we stamped with the Pretty Patterns stamp in Regal Rose and then embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder in the Big Shot. Knotted around the middle is the Chantilly Crochet Trim. The jar image was stamped with StazOn black on Watercolor paper. We colored with Crumb Cake (the jar & a shadow), Regal Rose (flowers), Daffodil Delight (center of flowers), and Old Olive (leaves). Again we used the blender pens to apply and blend colors. The saying was stamped with Regal Rose on watercolor paper, punched with the large scallop and layered onto a Regal Rose Scallop Oval. Pretty quick and simple, aside from the coloring time!!

5/29/2011

Some more play time. I should be cleaning house, but didn't feel like it just yet today. I got a little ambitious yesterday and tackled the weeds in the strawberry patch. While it looks much better, I'm very sore and sunburned. And, it's not quite done. Maybe later today, if it dries out.

Anyway, on to the stamping. Today I played with the Sketch Challenge at Stampin' Royalty. Here is what I came up with:

based on this sketch:

My card base is Poppy Parade, with another layer of Poppy Parade over that. The main purpose of the 2nd layer was to hide the back of the ribbon. The ribbon is attached at either side of the layer, with a "Mary Brown" bow attached in the center. An Antique Brad is in the center "knot". I used the embossing resist technique with the First Edition DSP (in the Occasions Mini but still available to order). The stems of the Fabulous Florets image were stamped on the DSP in Versamark and embossed with Clear Embossing powder. The flowers were done on scraps of DSP and also embossed. Over the stems I used a sponge dauber to apply Pear Pizzazz ink, and on the flowers, Poppy Parade. A little different look with the layered on flowers-I'm still trying to decide if I like it. The flowers were cut out and attached with a dimensional. 'just for you' from Teeny Tiny Wishes is the greeting at the bottom.

5/28/2011

Another card! I'm on a roll this weekend! Started this one last night and figured I'd finish before getting completely into my day. I've already done a few chores, and this is my small break before diving into more!!

I combined two challenges again. This time the sketch challenge at Stamping 411:

These colors were a bit of a challenge-I know that is the point! Definitely made me look at some sets I haven't used for a while!! My card base is Riding Hood Red with a Baja Breeze background textured with the Perfectly Polka Dots embossing folder. Across the bottom is a strip of the striped Peach Parfait print from the In Color DSP pack. At the very bottom of that is a strip of Peach Parfait card stock that was scalloped with the Scallop Trim Border punch. The cages were all stamped on Whisper White in Peach Parfait. Two birds are Baja Breeze, one is Riding Hood Red. Those are mounted on Riding Hood Red. Final accents are a rhinestone at the top of each cage and the saying, 'friend to friend' from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are finding some stamping time in your weekend!!

5/27/2011

Took some time to play tonight while waiting on my boys! The oldest has been out of town all week, in Florida with his High School Band. The youngest is helping with the Shrine Football team that "camps" at our local college. Weird that neither are home!!

Anyway, I browsed some challenge blogs and found a few challenges that suited me! Here is the card I created

I try not to pass up the chance to play with Concord Crush!! My card base is Concord Crush with a dotted DSP of Concord Crush for the background. In the center is a strip of So Saffron with Concord Crush scallop accents on each side. The So Saffron was stamped with flowers in So Saffron, and the saying at the bottom in Concord Crush. The center elements is a 3" circle of Concord Crush with flowers attached. I stamped the flowers with Concord Crush, added So Saffron accents, punched with their coordinating punch, and finished with a So Saffron Glitter Brad (not currently available). The flowers were attached with dimensionals. Pretty quick and easy-I may have time for a few more yet tonight!!

Happy Friday all! Hope it's been a good week and you have fabulous plans for the holiday weekend. I see mostly work in my future, but that's OK. Yard work, house cleaning, it all needs doin! The good news, son #1 is coming home today after being gone all week! Can't wait to see him!!

OK, as you know, Friday means another Sketch Frenzy Friday sketch challenge and mini hop. Here is my creation of the week

based on this sketch by Tina Taves.

My original thought with this sketch was to use Concord Crush, and the In Color DSP. I thought through several other ideas, before coming back to the original. First instinct-trust it!!

Card base is Concord Crush with a background layer of Pear Pizzazz DSP. The bottom accent is the reverse image Pear Pizzazz DSP on Concord Crush with Concord Ribbon knotted around and the saying across the bottom in Concord Crush. The focal element is a scallop circle from the Scallop Circle #2 Die. The Whisper White circle was punched with the 2-1/2" Circle Punch, the Pear Pizzazz circle was cut with the Circle Scissor at 2-3/4". On the Whisper White I stamped the stem image from Fabulous Florets in Pear Pizzazz. I then cut out a Concord Crush flower and attached with dimensionals. I also cut a 2nd "center" of the flower and attached that with dimensionals. Click the card to view the photo larger :). Accents on the scallop Concord Crush circle were done with the White Gel Pen.

Thanks for stopping by today! Continue on our mini tour by clicking HERE to see what Kim has created for your viewing pleasure this week!!

5/26/2011

Ready for another ColorLab Color Challenge? It proved to be the motivation I needed to get back to stampin' this week! Long week so far! Not sure why, other than more weird weather! We are lucky to have not been getting any of the severe weather that has hit other parts of the Midwest. Today though, feels much more like a Fall or early Spring day than a late May day. No sun, a cold North Wind and some rain.

Anyway, here are the colors for this week:

Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze &

a Touch of Very Vanilla

And since these colors are somewhat masculine, I of course had to grab 'the boat' again! Hopefully you all aren't sick of it yet. I did do something very different with it this time!! The card base is Soft Suede with a Baja Breeze background that was stamped with the Wonderfully Worn background and textured with the Square Lattice folder. The Top Note was cut from Crumb Cake. I used an oval frame from the Bigz Die as a mask and sponged Very Vanilla Craft Ink onto it. I used a sponge dauber and went until fairly evenly all covered. I set it with the heat tool so I could get to stamping!! The boat was stamped with Soft Suede ink. I blended more Soft Suede on the boat, and added Crumb Cake accents to the sail. Then I masked the sails and boat and daubered Baja Breeze over. Lightly for the sky, darker for the sea. Gold brads accent the top 3 points on the Top Note and on the points of the Modern Label Punch saying element.

Thanks for stopping by today!! Do stop over by the ColorLab and play along!! We love to see your creations!!

5/23/2011

Card one from the weekend Club gathering with my girls. I wanted to use the Water Color Crayons with them, but I wanted to do a different card than any of the other Sail Away cards I've done. I spent lots of time Friday night debating, but finally came up with this first thing Saturday. Last minute is always my best creative time :)

The card base is Basic Black with a Cherry Cobbler accent layer behind the Crumb Cake background. For the background, we first stamped the "Wonderfully Worn" background stamp with Cherry Cobbler ink on the Crumb Cake. Then we textured it with the Square Lattice embossing folder. The boat was stamped on Watercolor paper with Jet Black Stazon. We then added added color with the Water Color Crayons as follows: Baja Breeze lightly for the sky, Baja Breeze darker for the ocean, Crumb Cake for the sails, and Cherry Cobbler for the boat and flag. Colors were blended and added with Blender Pens. Across the bottom is a Basic Black grosgrain ribbon with 2 wraps of Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine. To do this, we attached the grosgrain with Snail adhesive to the back of the Crumb Cake. We then added more Snail, over the grosgrain and on the Crumb Cake, and stuck down the Baker's Twine. The saying is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped with Stazon Black on Crumb Cake and punched with the Modern Label punch. Behind is the Large Oval punched of Cherry Cobbler. Those two were attached together, then we added brads through the Modern label-all the way through the ribbon and Crumb Cake. The reason I did that: usually I use Stampin' Dimensionals to attach sayings over ribbon. But, in this case, the ribbon was too wide to go over. So we went through instead.

5/22/2011

Here is my most recent swap creation. I love the final result, but this is another of those "what was I thinking" swap cards! I create a card and I think, OK, I can do this 20 times. Then reality kicks in-YIKES!! I got them done, but it wasn't easy!!

The card base is Pacific Point with an accent layer of Wild Wasabi behind the background. The background is Whisper White with Blossom Bouquet punches attached. The punches are from the Beyond the Garden DSP and I chose the prints of Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi & Daffodil Delight. After I attached the punches, I ran the background through the Square Lattice embossing folder in the Big Shot. Daffodil Delight ink was sponged on the edge and a Daffodil Delight ribbon was attached. This is the "cheater" bow method. I usually wrap ribbon all the way around and knot it. But I was running short this time, so I attached a piece across, and knotted a smaller piece on the left side. The Hello Blossom stamp was colored with markers in Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight & Pacific Point. It is layered onto Daffodil Delight and finally Wild Wasabi with a Scallop Trim bottom edge. The flower element is attached over the ribbon with dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by today! Coming up next-Club cards from the weekend!! Stop back by tomorrow for the first.

5/20/2011

Friday! I always type that with mixed emotions! Good that the weekend is here, but bad that another week has flown past. This time of year has kicked it into an even higher gear. School is out, baseball is starting, #1 son is traveling next week, etc!!

Friday as you know means another Sketch Frenzy Friday sketch challenge and mini tour!! Here is my card for this week

based on this sketch by Tammy Fite.

My card base is Wild Wasabi with a background of Pacific Point that was textured with the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder. Across the bottom is a strip of Pacific Point with a Wild Wasabi Ribbon Punch accent at the top and bottom. Across the strip is a piece of Whisper White Taffeta ribbon with two Designer Flower Brads. The four accent squares are from the Beyond the Garden Designer Series Paper pack. Very bright colors overall, but these two together are quite manageable!! The saying in the center is from the fun new word set, Happy Greetings. It is on Whisper White in Pacific Point with a Wild Wasabi flower from Fabulous Florets. The oval is from the Ovals Big Shot die, but is the same size as the Wide Oval punch. I didn't like the layer of the next size oval from the die, so I did the trick we all do with the Designer Label punch. I punched two more ovals and cut one horizontally and one vertically. Layer them on the back of the oval. It's not perfectly symmetrical, but it's OK. The final accent is a bow of Whisper White Taffeta below the sentiment oval

Thanks for stopping by today!! Do stop over at the main SFF blog and play along!! We love to see all your creations!! Continue on our mini tour to see what Maria has created by clicking HERE.

I'm kind of feeling many of my cards are looking the same lately. ?? Oh well, guess that would be my style. I used the Flower Fest set again this week, this time with the "star" flower and small rose. The card base is Concord Crush with a background layer of Pear Pizzazz behind the background of Whisper White. On the side is an accent of Blushing Bride done with the Scallop Ribbon punch. I stamped the background in Blushing Bride for the star flower, Concord Crush for the Rose, and small leaves in Pear Pizzazz. My touch of Perfect Plum is the center of the roses, applied with a sponge dauber. I sponged the edge with Blushing Bride and attached a ribbon strip around the base. I did a 'Mary Brown' bow using a Rhinestone brad and attached that over the ribbon. The brad is wrapped around the ribbon to secure it together. The saying is from Hope Happens and was done on Whisper White with Concord Crush and a Blushing Bride star flower. I punched that with the Decorative Label punch and layered it onto two more decorative label punches for a layered look.

Thanks for stopping by today!! Do stop over at the ColorLab and play along! You'll want to see what the other team members came up with as well!!

5/17/2011

This was my post for the SUDSOL Summer Mini Blog Tour. The links are gone now, but the benefits remain for those of you who are demonstrators!! Click on any of the SUDSOL links to take the two week free trial :)

Welcome to the Summer Mini version of the SUDSOL Blog hop! SUDSOL stands for Simply Unique Demonstrators Sharing Online. I've been a member of this GREAT online group since shortly after becoming a demonstrator almost 11 years ago! It's been the upline I've never had. Everyone is very willing to share and we keep each other up to date on everything Stampin' Up! Along the tour today you will find some GREAT ideas and Demonstratable projects featuring NEW items from the Summer Mini Catalog!! Fellow Demos-you will find some great projects to share with your customers. Take the Two-week FREE SUDSOL TRIAL-you won't be sorry!! Customers-you will find great project ideas that should be easy for you to recreate. And, if you'd like to see everything SUDSOL and Stampin' Up! have to offer, talk to me about signing up with Stampin' Up first, then we'll get you hooked up with SUDSOL!! :)

On to the projects!! Remember you can click the photographs to view them larger!

First up is my first attempt with this new embossing folder, Flower Garden. The color here is all Pacific Point. Not one I use often, but it was out from a recent creation! Card base is Pacific Point. The background print is Pacific Point outline flowers from the Beyond the Garden DSP. I used the Scallop Oval Frame Bigz Die for the Big Shot to cut the Whisper White center and Pacific Point frame. I then textured the frame with the Square Lattice folder, and did the center oval with the Flower Garden folder. Then I grabbed a sponge dauber and dabbed Pacific Point ink across the raised images of the flower. Both the oval center and scallop frame were attached to the base with dimensionals.

Next up is a masculine Scallop Square Sail Away card. This little boat stamp is by far my favorite from this mini! It's been very well used already!! The large scallop square is Early Espresso. The "card" is actually sitting on the back of the scallop square. The scallop is just about 4-1/2" so cut your base at 8 x 4 and fold to 4x4 and it will fit perfectly!! The background is a striped DSP in Cherry Cobbler from the Nautical Expedition pack. Around that, I attached some Early Espresso Baker's Twine. The boat was stamped in Early Espresso on a Naturals Ivory smaller Scallop Square. This square is the larger of the two on the Scallop Squares Duo Die. I added some Cherry Cobbler to the boat and sail, and sponged the edge with Early Espresso. I wrapped Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine around the corners-3 times on the top, 2 on the bottom. To do that, I just dabbed some Snail Adhesive on the corner, pushed the twine down onto it and wrapped around, catching it in the scallops. The "hello" is from the Happy Greetings set. You will notice the actual stamp has 3 hellos, I only used one. Since I used Very Vanilla Craft ink and we don't have a marker, I put a piece of paper over two of them, inked the one I wanted, removed the paper and stamped on Early Espresso. Dry it quick with the Heat tool and punch with the Small Oval punch.

Next up I did the Poppin' Pastels technique with Flower Fest. I've wanted to do this with this set since I first saw it in the Mini!! Card base is Elegant Eggplant. A So Saffron layer is behind the background layer of Whisper White with a Certainly Celery scallop accent on the right side. On the Whisper White I stamped the scallop flower and stem images with Versamark. Then with a sponge dauber I dabbed on Stampin' Pastels in Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron & Certainly Celery. For the rounded flower, I stamped them with Versamark on another piece of Whisper White, applied Pastels and then punched them out with the Fancy Flower Punch. They are attached with dimensionals. The center one is over the Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon that I knotted around the background layer. I added a "thanks" to the center of it.

Finally, we have another Flower Fest card done with Pastels, this time with the Chalkboard technique. You start with dark card stock, I used Early Espresso. Stamp the images with Whisper White Craft Ink and then apply Pastels. I decided to go all with the scallop flower this time. Colors are Regal Rose & Daffodil Delight. After you have all the images colored, dab it lightly with a Swiffer cloth. This removes all the extra pastel dust and REALLY makes the image pop!! For accent, I added a yellow rhinestone to the center of the main image, and knotted an Espresso Taffeta ribbon around the background layer. The card base is Regal Rose with an accent layer of Daffodil Delight.

That's it for me! Hopefully I've inspired you!! Thank you so much for stopping by today! Detail lists of products used on each of my cards are below the links. Let me know if you have any questions!! Demo's-don't forget to sign up for the SUDSOL Two Week Free Trial. Then, stop by my gallery at SUDSOL and see what else I've shared there!!

5/16/2011

Happy Monday all! I know, I know!! Monday and happy don't go together!! Normally I would probably agree but it's looking to be a gorgeous Spring day here in Nebraska!! The sun is out, the temperature is climbing, and the wind is low. We had a terribly cold, windy weekend so it's a welcome change!! I will be outside this afternoon finishing planting my flowers!!

Here is a card made with Strength & Hope from the Summer Mini. This was sent to a friend and inspired by swap cards received in my regular monthly swap. The card base is Pretty in Pink. The background layer of Very Vanilla was textured with the Framed Tulips embossing folder. Inset inside the frame is another Pretty in Pink piece of card stock. On the right side I knotted a Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon. The butterfly and words were stamped in Pretty in Pink on Very Vanilla. I added a strip of pearls to the body of the butterfly and the circle punched "H hope" was attached with dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by today! Make sure you come back by tomorrow for the SUDSOL Summer Mini Catalog Blog Tour. You won't be sorry!! I'm finishing up my post now before heading outside.

5/15/2011

This is very similar to the Pacific & Black one I shared yesterday. I changed it up just a bit. Card base is Real Red with a Basic Black accent layer behind a Whisper White background. The background was wheeled with the Classic Stars jumbo wheel in Real Red. I've discovered lately I like the tight accent layer, leaving a larger area of the card base showing. I get that by cutting the accent layer 1/8" bigger than the background, instead of 1/4". On the "dreams" saying on this one I used markers to get both Basic Black & Real Red color. It's layered on Real Red & Basic Black and attached over Real Red Grosgrain ribbon with dimensionals. Agan, quick and easy!!

5/14/2011

It's graduation season!! I made this card for a friend's son who graduated last Saturday. I'm headed upstairs to make something similar for a neighbor girl who is graduating this afternoon. Congrats all Graduates!!

I always try and use the school colors for graduation cards. In this case, Basic Black, Pacific Point & Whisper White seemed the best choices. I wheeled the Classic Stars wheel across Whisper White with Pacific Point ink. I then textured it with the Square Lattice embossing folder. I think this saying is perfect for graduation!! It's from the Word Play set. I stamped it in Pacific and layered it onto Pacific and Black. I attached the element with dimensionals over the background.

5/13/2011

Friday! and pardon our bumps today. Blogger has been down, and may still be on occasion. For now, it appears to be working, so here we go with another Sketch Frenzy Friday challenge! Here is my card

based in this sketch brought to us by Patrice Herrera.

My colors are Certainly Celery and Rose Red. Pretty simple as it was VERY late last night! I thought of the wide striped ribbon when I saw the sketch, so I looked at the colors I have. Certainly Celery was unopened so I picked it. I love Certainly Celery and Rose Red together so there we go!! I chose the single stamp, For You Flower as the focal element. The card base is Certainly Celery with a Very Vanilla layer behind a combination Certainly Celery & Rose Red layer. The Celery side is just card stock that I textured with the Perfect Polka Dots folder in the Big Shot. The Rose Red side is card stock stamped with the Pretty Pattern background stamp with Very Vanilla Craft Ink. The flower was inked first in Rose Red, stamped on Very Vanilla card stock and punched with the Fancy Flower punch. I cleaned the stamp, and inked just the center with mostly Certainly Celery, and Rose Red one 'for You' to stand out. I gathered the ribbon under the flower by tying a piece of thread around it. I then attached the flower over the ribbon with dimensionals.

Continue on our mini tour by clicking HERE to see what Kim has done this week. Remember, there may be bumps as Blogger was down. All member blogs and the main blog are linked in my right side bar. We hope you'll play along this week!!

5/12/2011

Thursday!?! Again?? They sure do come around fast :) It's a CRAZY time of year here with end of school year activities, graduations, etc!! Hoping too that we get Spring for real here soon. It's been cold for far too long!! Anyway, to the point of the day: are you ready to play along at the ColorLab? Fun colors this week!!

Here is what I came up with!

Loving this new set-Flower Fest. Such quick and easy results!!! Card base is Rose Red with an accent layer of Not Quite Nay that had the bottom edge scalloped with the Eyelet Border punch. The background layer is Shimmery White on which I stamped the flowers and leaves in Rose Red, Not Quite Navy and Pear Pizzazz. My "touch" of Baja Breeze is the center of the Not Quite Navy flowers. The saying is from the new set Happy Greetings. Are you LOVING the Summer Mini!!???!! The saying was stamped in Not Quite Navy on Shimmery White with an accent Rose (stamped off once) in Rose Red. That was punched with the Wide Oval and layered onto a Rose Red Decorative Label. I did the scrunchy ribbon thing near the bottom using Sticky Strip and the Rose Red Seam Binding which is still available via the Carry Over list from the Occasions Mini catalog.

Thanks for stopping by today! Do stop by the ColorLab and play along! Make sure to upload your creation so we can see it!

5/06/2011

Friday! You all know that means another Sketch Frenzy Friday challenge and Mini Tour. Here is my card creation

based on this sketch brought to us this week by Sharon Field.

My card base is Rich Razzleberry. A background of Whisper White was stamped with the Flower Fest set in Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise and Pear Pizzazz. After stamping I textured it in the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and sponged with edge with Rich Razzleberry. Before attaching, I knotted a Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon around the bottom. The circle with the sentiment was cut with the 3" die in the Big Shot. The sentiment if from Happy Greetings and was stamped in Rich Razzleberry. Three punch flowers and a butterfly were attached with dimensionals to accent the circle.

The scanned card looks pretty busy but it isn't so bad in real life. The dimension of the flowers and butterfly break it up.

Continue on our mini tour by clicking HERE to see what Kim as created this week. Remember, all members blogs and the main Sketch Frenzy Friday blog are linked in my right sidebar.

5/05/2011

The ColorLab is on hiatus this week. Our Head Chemist, Julie, lost her Grandmother this week. The team agreed to take the week off to give Julie time to deal with all that she needs to. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. Here is a card I made tonight for Julie and will be mailing tomorrow.

In the spirit of Color, I used my Color Coach to choose the colors. It took several times flipping through before something "spoke" to me. I really only have this set, Thoughts & Prayers for Sympathy cards. And I always seem to default to this same layout. So, I looked at colors that would work with this set and finally settled on these: Soft Suede, Riding Hood Red & So Saffron. Just seemed perfect for the tree image. Maybe more of a Fall then Spring feel, but that's OK.

I'm skipping the details and all the rest and just sending this card on to Julie. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family at this difficult time. Contact me if you'd like to send a card to Julie and I will get you her address.

Thank you all for understanding. We'll be back next week with our regularly schedule challenges.

5/04/2011

The focal image is from the new set On the Grow. I decided to try some watercoloring and this was a perfect fit. I actually made two of these (and mailed them both!!). This one is birthday, the other was thinking of you for someone going through a very rough time. The card base is Daffodil Delight that I stamped with the Pretty Pattern background stamp in Daffodil Delight. The flower image was stamped on watercolor paper in Stazon black and then watercolored. It's been so long I'm having a "blond" moment and not remembering exactly what I used. I'm thinking markers. With the watercolor paper you can color a little and blend alot. The flowers were colored with Daffodil Delight. I then used a blender pen to lighten the centers and then add Peach Parfait. I shaded and outlined flowers with some More Mustard. If anything looks too dark-go over it with your blender pen. The leaves are Pear Pizzazz. I colored them in, then came back a second time and shaded and accented. The jar was done with blue, Bashful maybe?? I outlined the jar inside the black line, then blended the color over the entire jar. I shaded under the jar and along the left edge with Sahara Sand. Not bad huh??

The colored image is layered on Daffodil Delight then onto a larger Pear Pizzazz. I knotted a narrow Daffodil Delight Taffeta ribbon around and stamped the saying at the bottom in Stazon Black.

5/03/2011

**In case you missed the "hop", click HERE for my original post for the Stampin' Addicts Summer Mini Blog Hop. Links should still be live :)**

Day 2 of detail-are you ready?? Here we go!!!

Card base here is Not Quite Navy with a layer of Crumb Cake behind a First Edition DSP layer. This DSP is still available btw, even though it was in the Occasions Mini. It's on the Carry Over list!! I used my Classic Stars wheel in Baja Breeze across the DSP.

The main image was done with the Acetate and Tissue Technique. You need Acetate, glue, reinkers and tissue paper. The basic process: stamp your image in Stazon on the Acetate. When dry, turn it over and apply glue completely over the back, then add reinkers. When you have the color as desired, add a couple pieces of tissue for the crinkled look. Let dry. Now, I varied this just a little. My glue (Mono Liquid Glue) was almost empty and somewhat dry. It wasn't giving me the look I wanted, so I grabbed my Crystal Effects instead. It probably takes longer to dry, but I really like the result. Next variation: the basic technique just blends colors into the glue randomly. I placed mine in certain locations: Whisper White Craft on the sails, Baja Breeze on the Sky, Not Quite Navy on the sea, and Crumb Cake on the boat. NOTE: there is risk of bleeding and colors straying outside the lines! I recommend staying away from the outside lines on the images. When you apply the tissue it will push the color closer. Let me know if you have additional questions on this. My suggestion if you're not familiar with this technique: sit down and try one! Maybe with random colors first to see the concept, then with color placement. I would NOT try this with a very detailed stamp!! It is messy too-get some scratch paper to work on!!

When dry the image was layered onto Not Quite Navy and Crumb Cake. I added the Mini Library Clip to the side before attaching. It has a piece of Linen Thread tied around it. The saying is from the Happy Greetings set, also in the Summer Mini. I used my Not Quite Navy marker to ink just the 'Congrats' from the center of the stamp. I stamped it on Whisper White Card Stock and punched out with the Modern Label punch. I ran the star wheel over it too for accent and sponged the edge with Crumb Cake. The saying is attached to two punched stars, Baja Breeze first then not Quite Navy. The whole element is attached with dimensionals.

Finally, the last project: the Favor Box. It's fairly simple in comparison to the cards! Especially that last one :)

I used my Fancy Favor die to cut the box out of Baja Breeze textured card stock. It's very easy to assemble with a little sticky strip! I stamped the boat in Early Espresso on Naturals Ivory card stock. I masked the sails and bot and spritzed the image with Baja Breeze (mostly at the top for sky) and Not Quite Navy (mostly for the ocean). I sponged the edges with the Baja Breeze for the sky and Not Quite Navy for the sea then layered onto Early Espresso. I attached a piece of folded Early Espresso ribbon at the side as I attached the image to the box. I discovered that point I really didn't have room to attach a saying-I didn't like the way anything looked. So, I grabbed a jumbo eyelet, used my Crop-a-Dile to punch the hole and set the eyelet, and tied the saying on with Espresso Baker's Twine.

Thanks to all who stopped by during the hop, left comments or became a follower!! I hope you'll keep coming back for inspiration!! Knowing you all are out there keeps me stamping!!

5/02/2011

**In case you missed the "hop", click HERE for my original post for the Stampin' Addicts Summer Mini Blog Hop. Links should still be live :)**

As promised, I'm back with more details on the cards I created for the Summer Mini Hop. Please contact me if you have questions I don't answer!! Remember too that you can click each project to enlarge it and see the details better.

The card base here is Soft Suede. The background is Baja Breeze that I texutred in the Big Shot with the "diamond" Texturz plate. I still seemed a little plain, so I spritzed it with Log Cabin Smooch Spritz. Love the effect of this and the color coordinated perfectly with Soft Suede. BUT-remember to do it in a confined area. A box or something works great. You can never guarantee where the spray is going to go!!

The focal image was watercolored on Watercolor Paper with Watercolor Wonder Crayons. I started by stamping the boat with Black Stazon. Then I added color. Watercolor paper is great for blending and moving color around until you get your desired look. With the crayons, you can either put some color directly down on the paper, or pick it up on your blender pen. Blender pen is my choice for coloring, Fresh ones. If they are dry or too frayed they aren't going to do what you want. OK, back to the colors! The sky was lightly done with Baja Breeze. This I did by lightly applying Baja around the boat and then blending. The boat and flag at the top were done with Cherry Cobbler. The Cherry I picked up with the blender and blended til I liked it. The water is Not Quite Navy. I made sure to accent the wave marks directly with the crayon and blended it out. I then added other color by picking up from the crayon with the blender pen. The sails are Soft Suede.

The accent strip across the front is Soft Suede. I stamped the saying from Pretty Postage in Cherry Cobbler on Cherry Cobbler and cut down to a size to layer onto the Postage Punch. I used the Postage Punch and punched a Not Quite Navy. That element is layered onto the center of the strip. On each side I wrapped around some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine and knotted it. Then I grabbed some Build-A-Brads. To those I added an "anchor" punched from the Nautical Expedition DSP.

Card base here is Night of Navy. Background is a Cherry Cobbler print from the Nautical Expedition DSP. Great colors together!! The main image is done with the Polished Stone technique. You start with Glossy Card Stock. That I cut with the 3" Die in the Big Shot. Next, grab your rubbing alcohol (I prefer the 91% for faster drying), cotton balls and reinkers. True Polished Stone has always involved metallic inks. I never liked the Encore inks because they didn't dry. You had to spray it with an acrylic sealer to get it set. We no longer have those so I decided to try the Shimmer Paints. I first did my colors on the Glossy. Wet your cotton ball with alcohol-you want it wet but not dripping wet. I used 4 drops on color: 2 of Bashful Blue, 1 of Marina Mist and 1 of Night of Navy. Dab that around on your Glossy until you get the blended look you want. The more you dab, the more it will blend. At first you will have dots of color, but they blend together. Then grab a new cotton ball, wet again with alcohol and add Platinum Shimmer Paint. I used my stylus to add the shimmer paint because I wanted the "drop" look to it too. After that dries, stamp the boat with Black Stazon.

The accent circle of Night of Navy was cut with the Circle Scissor. I don't use it often, but if you want a circle of a certain size it's the perfect tool! I initially thought to layer the two circle dies, but it was too much difference in size. Behind the circle is a Wide Night of Navy Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. I attached it between the layers on one side, then knotted the other side with Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine. I angle cut the end of the ribbon and attached it down with mini glue dots.

Next I added the saying to look like a banner across the bottom. I stamped it in Night of Navy on a strip of Naturals White Card Stock. You could use scissors to cut the ends, I used a square punch. One worked perfectly, the other not so much :) I waved it a little when attaching. The two outer "hello"'s have dimensionals under them, the center is attached direct. Doubt that you can see that in the picture.

It still needed something at this point so I grabbed the Silver brads, Mat Pack and Paper-Piercing Tool. 3 brads one each corner and it's good to go!!

Whew-that's probably way more than you wanted to know!! Thanks for coming back today!! Tomorrow the last card and the favor box.